New Nissan Leaf enters production in Sunderland under EV36Zero

Nissan has officially started production of the new Leaf at its Sunderland plant, with the first customer cars rolling off the line after a sweeping upgrade of the facility. The company cites £450 million invested in readying the assembly process, which includes a revamped paint shop with 78 robots, the deployment of 475 autonomous carts for parts delivery, new digital manufacturing tools such as virtual reality and digital mapping, and more than 360,000 hours of workforce training. Taken together, the scope of the overhaul suggests a factory set up for serious EV output rather than a short run.

Nissan also positions the start of third-generation Leaf production as the kickoff for the EV36Zero project. The program covers preparation for electric versions of the Qashqai and Juke, around £3 billion for three battery gigafactories, and the creation of a sustainable electric microgrid to cut the carbon footprint of manufacturing. It reads as a joined-up strategy that ties the car, the cells, and the energy supply into one ecosystem.

The new Leaf is offered with two battery options: 52 kWh and 75 kWh. Claimed range stands at up to 433 km and 621 km respectively. The model is already open for orders and qualifies for the full £3,750 government EV grant. Prices start at £32,249 and rise to £36,249. Two packs, two clear use cases: one tailored to everyday commuting, the other aimed at longer journeys—made more appealing by the available incentive.